Deceased FIL's Jewellery

[Miggymoggymugwumps]

Just having a discussion with DH about whether to sell his deceased DD's jewellery. He's been gone 5 years and his gold signet and sovereign rings and neck chains etc are still sitting in a box. They weren't specifically bequeathed to DH but nobody else wanted them, not even his Mum.
DH will absolutely never wear any of it and if we sold it all the money would certainly come in handy. However DH feels perhaps he should hang onto it in case it's not morally the 'done thing' to do.
Whatever he decides is fine by me but I was just wondering what other people think?

If he isn't going to wear it, could he perhaps sell it to a jeweller for the gold value and keep a bit back to melt into something he would wear? That might be a better option that it just being in a box in your DHs possession. It's tough though, especially as it's his DFs.

DH mum died 37 years ago when he was a boy. He still has her wedding ring. It doesn’t need to be worn, or sold, he just likes knowing he has it.

I’d leave the discussion. If your DH wants to hang on to them just let him. I know DH just likes knowing his mums ring is in the little box on the dresser.

The jewellery I wear is too my taste and expresses my preferences, I would never expect someone to want it after I'm gone. Lovely if they did, but actually if my jewellery helped my child out by providing a financial contribution I'd be more than thrilled and I don't think it's grabby or immoral to take that decision.
The only reason I would keep a piece if I wasn't going to wear it, would be if looking at it now and again made me feel close to them because it was strongly associated with them.

Im a big fan of selling jewellery that isn't worn but I do know what your dh means. We might end up selling my mum's wedding ring and it's a bit odd isn't it? It just seems completely pointless to keep it, none of us want it or have any wish to remember the marriage... but all the same it seems sensitive.

I would just reassure your dh that it's a completely reasonable thing to do whenever he's ready, and leave him to it.

Your husband will know what to do and when, you don't need to give it any thought. I'm guessing it's tucked away somewhere and not causing any bother.

My dad has his mother's wedding ring which I'll get when he dies. I don't know what I'm likely to do with it, but selling it isn't out of the question. I haven't seen it since I was a very young child and I never knew my grandma so it doesn't have a huge sentimental value to me.

I have jewellery from an aunt who died 45 years ago. It is no use to me, the rings don’t fit and the settings are very 70s. I can’t bring myself to sell it. I have thought of having it remade into something I’d wear.

I agree with PP - either have it remade in to something he (or you, if he wants) would wear, or sell it to a jeweller for gold value (though be warned it might not be much), or keep it in a box if he's sentimental over it.

I have some jewellery from my grandmothers (I have one's engagement ring and the other's wedding ring). I will inherit my mothers jewellery one day and I like the idea of combining all three in to something new. My Mum did the same when her mum passed away. Thanks to a few years in the Middle East, gold wasn't something she was lacking in, so my Mum had a new ring designed and made out of some pieces.